Howard 'Burrel' Matthews

Howard Burrel Matthews was born February 2, 1913, to Howard and Martha Alice (McClay) Matthews on a farm northeast of Webb, IA, and died on February 21, 2010, at the Spencer Municipal Hospital at the age of 97 years. Burrel was the second of three children including his older sister, Irma (Woodford) and his younger brother, Darrel. Burrel attended rural Garfield Consolidated School located in Garfield Township 3 miles east of Webb. He graduated from Garfield High School in the spring of 1932. Throughout his high school years and after graduation, Burrel enjoyed playing sports, which he continued into his late 20's playing baseball for area town teams. He began farming immediately after high school by working with his father and for neighbors. He loved farm life, especially working with livestock. On Easter Sunday, April 17, 1938, he married Mabel Glessner at the Church of the Brethren in rural Sheldon. To this union, two children were born: Lola (Read) of Lake Park, IA, and Burlin of Spencer. During his youth, Burrel was active in Clay County 4H. He enjoyed showing cattle and hogs each year at the Clay County Fair; traveling to Chicago with 4H friends to see the 1933 World's Fair; and serving as an adult 4H leader in Garfield Township. Burrel and Mabel lived and farmed around the Webb and Marathon communities until he retired at the age of 85. In the fall of 1973, they purchased a home and moved into Webb, where they lived until moving to Spencer in the summer of 2002. Burrel was a member of the Webb United Methodist Church, served on the Church board, sang in the choir, and actively participated in other church responsibilities. He was elected to and served on the Webb Consolidated School Board. A highlight for him was the 19 years he worked during the summers assisting in preparation for the Clay County Fair. Burrel was a devoted and loving husband and father. He lived his life by teaching and watching his children's activities from the time they were young until their maturity. As he grew older, he continued to encourage and support the accomplishments of his grandchildren and great grandchildren. Burrel was preceded in death by his wife, Mabel, of 68 years; his parents; his in-laws, R.H. and Jennie Glessner; his sister, Irma and her husband, Bernard Woodford, and their daughter, Janice; his brother, Darrel; three brothers-in-law and their wives; and a sister-in-law and her husband. Surviving are his children and their families-Lola and Richard Read of Lake Park, IA; Bruce and Pat Read, Muscatine, IA; Bryan and Nicolle Read, Milford, IA and Burlin and Alice Matthews of Spencer, IA; Tyne and Dale Kabrick, Graettinger, IA; Ryne Matthews, Sioux Falls, SD; sister-in-law, Jeanette Matthews-Worthan, Storm Lake, IA; eight great grandchildren and many nieces and nephews. They buried a farmer today, Gave him back to the dirt from which he came. Earlier his family and neighbors walk by, Looking at memories of a simple man's life. A table of photos, toy tractors and cards, Telling the story of life on the farm. There are the overalls he wore every day, Except on Sunday, when he bowed his head to pray. All things that kept him close to his roots. Not born in a barn, but not far away, From the fields where a boy learned how to play. There are photos of his children and grandchildren, too, And he and his wife, there are more than a few. The smiles betray the hard times that he faced, The worries and fears, the profits erased. By weather and markets, out of his hands; In the end, all he really had was his land. The soil, the crops, and even the weeds, To his way of thinking, that's all he would need, To take care of his family, and help them stay safe, From a faster-paced world, not too far away. A good life, a simple life, that's what he led, He'd struggled like most, but came out ahead. And eventually, retirement, if ever a farmer could, Stop worrying or working, but he did it, for good. He enjoyed his last years, and made sure that he thanked, The good Lord above for his life, and his land. His time ended quickly, his loved ones in tears, Hoping he knew what he meant to them all through the years. Today they gather, to remember and pray, About a simple man they loved, who was there every day. Through joy and sorrow, laughter and pain, He was there when they needed him, right up to the end. Out to the cemetery, they carry him home, To a small plot of land, just under a stone. For they know he's at peace, and praying for them, As they stand on a slope, not far from his land. The service now over, they leave him alone, Knowing some day, he'll greet them once more. A dust cloud forms as the trucks drive away. They buried a farmer today.

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